Influence of interest on the formation of skilled workers in Malaysia: The case of the Kuala Lumpur Industrial Training Institute

Vocational and technical education is a crucial human resource development (HRD) component in a fast developing country such as Malaysia. What is at issue is the fact that more often than not vocational and technical education is regarded as second class and this perception has deflated interest and training enrolment in the field. This study took a closer look at the formation of skilled workers in a Malaysia’s industrial training institute. Utilising the qualitative method of the Grounded Theory primary data were gathered from questionnaire-based, in-depth interviews of 32 respondents comprising administrators, trainers, trainees, employers and peers in Kuala Lumpur Industrial Training Institute (ILPKL) who were purposefully sampled. The findings revealed that trainee interest and sense of determination were critical factors in the formation of highly skilled workers. This sense of determination was in turn influenced by factors such as encouragement by family members, trainers and administrators. The implication is that trainee interest and determination are imperative in the transformation of Malaysia’s technical and vocational education.